The government shutdown didn’t amount to much. Representative Mia Love went to the media saying she was asking for her pay to be withheld until the government reopened.
Good for her, but it seemed more like a media opportunity than a legitimate concern for the public.
In the end she didn’t lose much. It was the public who lost.
We have a government that is totally dysfunctional. All legislators could agree on was a funding bill that keeps the government open until Feb. 8.
Are we going to see another shutdown then?
Republican Arizona Senator John McCain, who has been in the senate for more than 30 years, is on record saying this is the most divisive he has ever seen the two parties.
Perhaps that goes without saying. For those of you who have been alive for a few decades, think back to when you were young. Do you remember Democrats and Republicans hating each other the way they do now?
I remember differences of opinion, but I don’t remember anything like this.
Even Tip O’Neal and Newt Gingrich were able to put their differences aside (and they were substantial) to get things done.
Not any more.
Democrats stand in opposition to anything Republicans want to do and visa versa. Almost every vote is along party lines. Never mind what is best for the country, winning is the most important thing.
No, that’s not quite right.
Winning is the only important thing. Never mind what is best for the American people.
There has been a lot of name calling by both sides about who was responsible for the shutdown. Was it a “Trump Shutdown” or a “Schumer Shutdown?”
Republicans are going to believe what they want and Democrats are going to believe what they want. I’m not sure it matters much.
Or does it?
Clarification
I made a mistake in my opinion column about Orrin Hatch in the Jan. 23 issue. I said, “This executive order makes it possible for large companies to mine uranium, as well as any other natural resources, on land sacred to Navajo Indians.”
Actually, existing mining permits could have been exercised during the time the area was designated a National Monument.
Dale Harber, a former federal land management agency employee, brought this to my attention. I thank him for that information.
He said most of the permits were issued to small companies. Even though they weren’t being used, they were still valid as long as the annual premium was paid.
However, eliminating the designation now allows more, and potentially larger, permits to be issued.
We’ll see what happens.
Shutdown shows Washington gripped by total dysfunction
STEVE CHRISTENSEN